The CVE-2023-5706 involves an important vulnerability found in the VK Blocks plugin for WordPress, which is used by thousands of websites. This vulnerability affects the plugin's 'vk-blocks/ancestor-page-list' block in all versions up to and including version 1.63..1. The issue is caused by insufficient input sanitization and output escaping, which allows contributors with permissions equal to or above the contributor-level to inject malicious scripts into web pages. Upon accessing these infected pages, users will unknowingly execute the injected script, potentially resulting in a wide range of malicious consequences.
Detailed Explanation
The VK Blocks plugin for WordPress is a popular tool that web developers use to create attractive and functional websites. However, researchers have discovered a critical security vulnerability in this plugin, known as CVE-2023-5706. This vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including version 1.63..1.
The vulnerability is a type of stored cross-site scripting (XSS) issue in the 'vk-blocks/ancestor-page-list' block of the plugin. Essentially, the plugin does not properly sanitize input and output on user-supplied attributes. This means that attackers with contributor-level or above permissions can inject arbitrary web scripts, which can then be executed whenever a user accesses an infected page.
The primary concern with this vulnerability is the potential for an attacker to take actions on behalf of the affected user, such as stealing user data, performing actions without the user's consent, or causing damage to the website. Additionally, this vulnerability poses a risk of spreading to other users who visit the infected page.
This snippet of code demonstrates the exploitation of the vulnerability
<!-- An example of a stored XSS payload in a VK Blocks plugin attribute -->
<div class="vk-blocks-ancestor-page-list" data-ancestor-pages='{"ancestor_script":"<script>/*Injected malicious code goes here*/</script>"}'>
Exploit Details
To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must have contributor-level or higher permissions on the targeted WordPress site. The attacker can then access the 'vk-blocks/ancestor-page-list' block in the plugin and inject malicious web scripts in one of the block attributes. Once the affected page is viewed by another user, the injected script will automatically execute.
If you are using the VK Blocks plugin for WordPress up to version 1.63..1, it is highly recommended that you update the plugin immediately to a more secure version. Additionally, ensure that you regularly perform security audits and follow best practices to keep your WordPress site and plugins up to date and safe from vulnerabilities.
The original vulnerability details and responsible disclosure can be found at the following links
1. CVE Details
2. Security advisory for VK Blocks plugin
In conclusion, it's crucial to be aware of CVE-2023-5706 and its potential impact on your WordPress website if you are using the VK Blocks plugin. Be sure to update your plugins, enforce strong access control measures, and maintain a vigilant eye on potential security threats to ensure the safety of your website and its visitors.
Timeline
Published on: 11/22/2023 16:15:14 UTC
Last modified on: 12/02/2023 00:23:17 UTC